An open letter to “our boys” (for their trip to Sydney)

Unscripted, after the siren after the stirring win against Port Adelaide, Jack Riewoldt looked into the Fox Footy camera and said this: “First and foremost, it gives our supporters a chance to go to work on Monday with a big smile on their dial and say they’re Richmond supporters, and proud to be Richmond supporters.”

If words could turn a season, in the hearts and minds of us barrackers, then these could be it.

Here was tacit acknowledgement that the game means more than just the playing; it is also about hope and pride and happiness and belonging. Our Jack spoke for us all. He understood our predicament. He gave voice to our plight. And for this, and for his goals, and for his courage on the field, we thank him.

On Sunday night, singing in the rain, farewelling our boys from the MCG and onto bigger deeds in Sydney, there was much to be thankful for. For most of the game, I sat between Peta Newsome and Trout in the cheer squad. Our Tigers, almost a year later, were back “in the eight”.

And by happenstance, after the siren, I found myself beside Verran Fehlberg, from Fitzroy North. He was the man I mentioned last week, who at the Adelaide Oval held-up a handmade sign on the boundary that said, simply: “7-0”.

He made a new sign for Sunday night. It didn’t matter he held it around the wrong way: 0-8. The message was clear. His smile was as wide as the MCG. After the heart-stopping tension of the North game (what was Firrito thinking with his quick play-on and misdirected kick late in the final quarter!?!), our fairy tale continued. 8-0. We haven’t known about loss all this financial year.

8-0.

May it be 9-0 next week. 10-0 against Port Adelaide. May the dream never die. 11-0 elsewhere. 12-0. May our boys come back to play on the MCG, and may we all pray for a ticket. Dare to dream. 13-0. Imagine that?

Can words help a team win? Can words inspire? Can words give meaning to actions and intent?

Jake Batchelor played his eleventh-straight game for this season (8 wins, 3 losses) on Sunday night, and remains an unheralded contributor to our revival. Against West Coast, it’s hard to believe he had only three disposals. Apart from his career-first goal in the gloom against Fremantle – the fist-pump, being mobbed by his team mates – a highlight of his this year was his gang tackle, with Stevie Morris, of Jack Darling – the three of them sliding over the Subiaco boundary, in the tumbling rain; as a metaphor for all the defensive pressure, the desperation, that helped win us that night and has helped turn our season.

Others get the headlines, while Batch plays his role in getting the job done.

On Sunday night, against St Kilda, playing his 50th game, Jake Batchelor collected 22 possessions and a goal from the back pocket. Yet what lingers most was a bump he made off the ball, knocking his opponent over as the two chased for possession in open play. It was all poise, all balance. With his long left-foot kick, his aggressive tackling, this is what Batch has given these past 11 weeks.

Poise and balance. Another week of it, Batch, in Sydney; another week of us singing your praises.

Anthony Miles, obviously, is our season’s good news story. Discarded by last year’s wooden spoon team, picked by Richmond at No. 27 in the Rookie Draft, elevated mid-season but not selected for the seniors immediately, he has proved so many so wrong. As with Batch, he came into the side after the demoralising Dreamtime loss; and as with Batch he hasn’t looked back. In his 11 consecutive games he’s averaged 24 disposals, kicked four goals, but most importantly, he’s put his head over the ball and burrowed into packs in the hottest part of the ground like few others have.

It is true, Anthony, we do not love you yet as much as we love, say, Dusty or Brandon Ellis or Brett Deledio, but this is only because we have not known you long. When you line up for us in the middle in Round 1 next season, all of us will have you in our hearts. You have earned that. You deserve that. You have found an opportunity, and honoured the chance.

Next Sunday, in the west in Sydney, comes your opportunity for denouement on this fairy tale of yours, and ours. Your hard work and bravery will help win us a finals spot. And it will be the beginning of a whole other story.

Brandon Ellis, I met your parents last year, briefly, on your 20th birthday, at the MCG, after we beat Hawthorn in the rain, and your mother was rightly proud of you, as we all are too. You’re so young; you’ve made so much of yourself. All those expectations we had for you at this season’s start have at last come true. You have delivered. You are a fine footballer.

All us Richmond fans are happy for you after your misstep (what do the French call it, Jacko, a faux pas?) in our Round 3 loss to the Bulldogs, when the oldest man on the field, Dan Giansiracusa, drew a free from you, and played on, and kicked the winning goal. How so much of this season may have been so different if that result had fallen our way.

Confidence is everything in football, and Brandon, I fear your confidence was shaken after that game. It needn’t have been. And it’s all kudos to you that you’ve turned it around, and the longer this season goes the better you’ve gotten, and there should be no reason why your run-and-run-and-run next week in Sydney shouldn’t help win us the game. All of us are behind you Brandon. We’ve got your back. We’re proud of you.

Shane Edwards, so much of our resurrection these past few months, especially in the crunch games against similar foe, has been set-up by you. You are our great creator, our conjurer. You make the play happen. You give the team quick hands and quicker reflexes, and a clearer understanding of how the play may unfold. You give us dash, you give us daring. You’ve also given us 21 goals. And plenty of memorable tackles.

Congratulations on your 150th game, against St Kilda, on Sunday. May your 151st game be full of all the wonder you’ve given us over the years. (I still think of the day your jaw was broken, in the middle, early in the game – was it against the Bulldogs? – and how I wanted to let you know how concerned I was for you). Knock ’em dead on Saturday, Titch. Tie ‘em in knots!

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Prrrrr: Our very own “Skippy Girl in the forward pocket” posted this photo of herself and her daughter on Twitter after the game, modelling their new “tiger” hoodies they picked-up at the ground. Thank you @SatchSkippygirl.

On Sunday night I sat next to Trout, in the cheer squad, behind the Punt Road end goals.

On Sunday night I missed the banner being raised, and Neville Crowe doing a lap, because I was outside the MCG, wearing a gold glitter helmet, trying to spruik our labour of love that is ‘Tiger tiger burning bright’.

Big hugs and thanks to all who’ve bought our fundraising t-shirts and hoodies. It means so much to us. Your contribution to our contribution makes us eternally grateful. We can only hope our contribution – as fans, as storytellers – helps make a contribution to the players, and to the team.

We are, if nothing else, idealistic. We like to believe anything is possible. We value the connection between people. We like the sense of inclusion, of community, that football can engender. We like to share those voices in the crowd that may otherwise never be heard.

We hope it isn’t a misguided ideal.

We still have five ‘tiger’ t-shirts for sale (4 XLs and 1 L, $40), and 10 ‘tiger’ hoodies (7 XLs, 2 L and 1 M, $65). If you’d like to buy one to help us continue TTBB next year, please contact me via email (dugaldjellie@gmail.com). I make deliveries on my bicycle, I make delivers in the post. Thank you.

Home tiger: Geoff Matheson (Twitter: @geoffmatho) from Ringwood posted this lovely selfie in his new “tiger” tee that arrived in the post. Thank you Geoff, it looks brilliant!

Alex Rance is going to monster Buddy on Saturday afternoon in Sydney, I know he is. Rance beat him several times when he played for Hawthorn, and on that Friday night at the MCG on the winter equinox – our last loss this season! – he blanketed him, and ran off him when the game was there to be won. Never mind Buddy kicked four goals and was the match-winner. Rance has had the better of him over the years, and Buddy knows this just has much as Alex does.

Jack is going to be on song on Saturday afternoon, I know he is. He played his most perfect game (11 goals, two behinds, and that pass-off to Cotch, from 17 kicks) at Spotless Stadium, in Homebush. Just across the way at ANZ Stadium, I cannot find any reason for it to be any different.

He is fit and uninjured. His hands are clean, his leads are sharp. He has his eye in. His confidence is up. I want Jack to rip apart the Swans on Saturday. The passion he’s shown for this club, this team, and us supporters – I want it to be displayed on Saturday with a ruthless and uncompromising attack on the ball. We haven’t come this far for all this to be meaningless. Jack is going to turn it up on Saturday, I know he is.

Ben Griffiths attacked the contest on Sunday night. Since returning to the fold after Tyrone’s errant swing, he looks a changed man. It seems as if a burden of expectation has lifted. He looks comfortable within himself. If last year it was stooped shoulders and downcast eyes, for now he’s flying for the ball, full of desire. Few other seven-possession games are as memorable as his was on Sunday night. He kicked two goals. This Saturday in Sydney, oh how I want him to do something he’s never done before: kick three.

Dylan Grimes, on Saturday, will delight in all the space of the ground, as we will delight in his athleticism. Nathan Foley, on Saturday, with his selfless team play – always presenting, always making an option – will do something he’s not achieved in 152 games of football: book himself in to play in a final. Ricky Petterd will do as he does most weeks, put his body on the line for his team mates. Sacrificial acts for the greater good of the team, he knows a few.

Troy Chaplin played perhaps his most perfect game of football on Sunday night. There is no reason he couldn’t improve on it on Saturday. Bachar Houli was everywhere with his run and slick skills on Sunday night. There’s no reason why he shouldn’t repeat it on Saturday. Nathan Gordon has set himself a new benchmark these past few weeks, with his games against Essendon and Adelaide. Against his old team, and with space to create, there’s no reason he couldn’t better it.

Our leaders will rise to the occasion on Saturday – Cotch, Lids, Ivan Maric – as cream rises to the top. Remember that dire game against Melbourne after Tommy Hafey’s death? (How could we forget?) Remember Cotch’s run and run and goal in the last quarter to give us a glimmer of hope? That is why we love him so. And Lids? He makes the game look easy. On Saturday, he’s going to make it look as though he’s playing with his own ball.

But these are the players who on Saturday are going to win it for us: Steven Morris, Shaun Grigg and Dusty. I know they will. Each of them has something to prove. Each of them will show what they can do.

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On Monday afternoon I sent a tweet: Have been writing an open letter to “our boys” (for their trip to Sydney). All suggestions welcome. #gotiges.
Here’s a selection of replies:
Glen Weidemann @weedo 04 WIN!
YELLOW & BLACK @Punt_Rd_End very short letter DJ. GO HARD, WIN, SEASON OVER IF YA DON’T. Love from ALL @Richmond_FC Supporters
Murf @nmurf27 kick it to Jack and Lids
Emily O’Connor @emily_rfc no matter how the season ends, we’re proud of them for not giving up when it all got tough. Showed they are #strongandbold
Darren Crick @derwoodau make sure they know we will have a good time watching them and a better one if they win!
Alan Scott @alanrfc56 Just keep on winning, we don’t want the dream to end #gotiges
Cheryl Critchley @CherylCritchley Channel Richo circa 2004 last time we beat them up there. Richo kicked 7.0 and won the game for us :-)
Liam Kiernan @liammichaelliam tell them… Win lose or draw I will never not support the tiger and I am proud as of the Richmond football club
Caz @MallettCaroline Just that we are there with them no matter what… #GoTigers
Chelsey Huber @LifEinColoR96 don’t hold back, keep the dream alive!! #gotiges
Shelly Connors @DameTassiemum Self belief is everything. This year has proven that. We played the first half with none, the second half with plenty! #gotiges
Paul Ager @PaulTAger If it is to be it’s up to me – Tom Hafey
Ben De Pedro @BenDepedro believe in yourselves it’s possible, with belief possibility becomes probability

Before last year’s Elimination Final I wrote that Damien Hardwick ought be both careful and bold in his team selections. I called for the inclusion of Orren Stephenson in the team, to no avail. And I said he should be wary of carrying injured players. Jack was injured going into last year’s final, and Newie was injured, and Jake King was exhausted and spent.

We tried to play tempo footy and got caught out. We got ahead of ourselves. The only blessing was the day’s occasion, and how Nick Vlastuin and Cotch, among others, rose to it.

Saturday afternoon at ANZ Stadium is the first of this season’s two Elimination Finals. It is a time for redemption. It is a time for a new beginning. It is a time for charting a destiny.

Our resurrection, from 3-10 to 11-10, has been one of the football stories of the season. But it should not end here. It is a story that needs to get better, still. Here is an opportunity – to take on the league’s best team, on the eve of finals, in Sydney, on their home ground – that ought not be squandered. Here is an opportunity for this team, for this group of young men, to break our shackles of history.

Casual observers are willing us to win, I know they are. Other supporters understand our fairy tale. They understand it is good for our code of football. Our hope and our passion and our fervour make others happy.

I offer no advice for the game this Saturday. I offer only encouragement. I want every Richmond player to play with a brave heart and a free spirit. Take the game on. Be strong and bold. If ever in doubt, think of all times in your life you’ve overcome adversity. Have no fear. Go into the game with no expectations. Help each other. Do it for each other. Take pleasure in selfless acts. Take on responsibility.

And before the game, think about this. The Sydney players know they have a home final booked, with a double chance. They know we’re playing for everything. Our backs are to the wall. They know we’re going to be harder and lower and more ferocious in the contest; that we are going to hunt them, and maul them, and when we get the ball we are going to run like the wind to open up scoring chances.

Comments

Hi Dugald, how are you going, in all senses of the word? Hope you are feeling ok. Love my “Fan of the week” page- cool and relaxed and friendly 😉
I want to buy you a plane ticket so you can come on the Cap tiges bus with us to Sydney- how do I do this?
Get back to me asap, tigerlove, Cassandra xxxx ROARRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!

But first I need to give you a virtual, and platonic, hug. Intuition is strange. When I met you, straight up, I knew you were full of kindness and generosity. I just knew it. It’s just a bonus that you’re a Richmond supporter. It sort of rounds everything out, makes you perfect.

And I’m all OK. Have an MRI scan tomorrow, and another visit to neurologist, but I think it was just a really nasty viral infection that’s caused this temporary facial paralysis, that already has subsided. (although I do find myself tripping over words, and I am still a bit droopy). But I’m alive! And the Tigers are alive! And the world is alive!

I had thought if North were to win, and we were to beat St Kilda, I would jump on a train/bus to Canberra, stay with my sis No. 2, and hitch a ride to Sydney Town with you good folk at the Capital Tigers. But it’s not to be. We have visitors this weekend (from Sydney, and rugby people – she’s South African, he’s Welsh), and it’s too much of an ask me ducking away from the family.

So will be watching the game from home, and inviting over two mad Swannies friends (who I think, secretly, wouldn’t mind if their team lost to mine – they know about my infatuation), will fire up the barbeque, do the salads, and I hope to pop a champagne cork at about 7pm.

Thanks again for your offer. Will send out a tweet/blog post about your bus trip. You’re a lovely tiger, Cassandra, who’s just made my day.

We love the hoodies, thanks Dugald! They are so snuggly and Tigerish. I urge people to grab a T or hoodie now for an excellent Christmas present.
We will be wearing them Saturday to watch the match. Would have loved to have gone to Sydney to add support for the boys but it’s not to be. We will have to scream at the telly instead.
I keep looking at my watch, it’s only Tuesday, hurry up Saturday.
Cassandra I hope you have a wonderful trip on the bus and at the game, and may the might Tigers bring home the bacon.

Thanks Skippy (“in the forward pocket”) and I do hope you got the t-shirts OK. (let me know if they haven’t turned up!!!!). And thanks for being such a generous benefactor of this tigerish project of ours. I have to try and think that what we do helps the club in some way. And what you’ve done helps us. Isn’t Cassandra the best! It’s a beaut group, the Capital Tigers. It’s a really active supporter group (dips me lid to Darren Crick), who certainly have been very generous also to TTBB.
And thanks for posting the hoodie pic on Twitter. Phoawrr! Hope you don’t mind that I used.
And isn’t this week just the most wonderful week we’ve had since before the final last year? We’ve waited a WHOLE YEAR, and finally we are where we want to be. Please, please, please let them win. Let our dreams come true. Let them write their own script.
So, yes, I’ve appropriated your “Tiger Love Bomb” idea with this open letter to the players. I will attribute your “love bomb” in due course.
I like the idea of Tiger love.
Enjoy Sunday afternoon. I only want to hear good news!
Go tiges! Go skip!
TTBB

Yes I did receive the Tees, thanks! We are now well kitted out.
This week feels like a Grand Final week somehow, even though I’ve forgotten what one feels like as a Tiger.
It’s funny, that thing “love”, isn’t it? Uncanny that even the thought and our chat about sending them Tiger Love Bombs (at our lowest point in the season) seemed to ignite them to 8 straight wins, without us even actually sending the love bombs. They just worked, like telepathy. Go figure! I bet there’s even love in space.

Hi Dugald. Another great blog! I can’t wait to wear my T-shirt loud and proud. I’ll be in Sydney on the weekend at the game, but I think it’s going to be too cold to wear it there! You’ve done another wonderful job this year; your work is so heartfelt and appreciated by all of us Richmond fans. Keep it up!

Good on ya Cheryl, and thanks for buying a tee! And I was a little chuffed that we both found ourselves on page 7 of the Herald Sun on Monday morning! (with a pic of Trout as well, of course!). Enjoyed your piece on being a Tiger tragic, like us all. And I was unwittingly snuck in to the story written by Aaron. A bit embarrassed. I hope it’s not misconstrued that I was speaking on/for behalf of the cheer squad. He just asked me a question. And I answered it. Another thing I’m chuffed about: the first three comments about this blog were posted by women! I think that is just wonderful. Am really glad that Chris and I (and Andy Fuller) have created a space where I hope there is that sense of inclusion. I know I certainly like to include the voices – and faces – of women in my Tiger musings. The football stories of women interest me. I hope they interest others, too.
Hope you have a beaut time in Sydney with your (is your son going this time?)…
go tiges! go CC!
TTBB

Hey Dugald,
yes, we should praise them. We should praise them as they have turned it around. The team deserved our criticism, and now, the team deserves our praise. My impression was that they were aware they also deserved their criticism. Whatever happens in Sydney, let it be. The main thing that I don’t want to see, is a summer of back slapping and hearing how well everyone is tearing up the track etc etc.
It’s a pity that it has to come down to beating Sydney in Sydney. There are too many games that our boys lost. I can remember not wanting to criticise any player by name – all of them seemed to be that 5% off their game. Each player seemed to be getting outplayed at any different moment. And now, to see the players backing each other, backing themselves, is wonderful. I think the majority of us Tiger fans believed in them throughout the 3:10 start to the season. I also don’t blame any one us of fans for doing other things instead of going to the games. Let’s not forget, it pretty much takes up 4hours of an afternoon if one is going to the game. These four hours can give pleasure for the rest of the week, or, each second might feel like an hour.
So, let’s commend Dimma and the team, for staying on message, for saying, ‘we need to win’, and, for playing to win.
Dugald, Chris thanks for TTBB – and for righting the good-ship-Tigerland.
Andy

I never thought I would feel as forgiving as I do now. After 4 wins in a row I said I could see us winning our next 4 too – but the prospect still made me feel queasy. Were we just going to roll over and paint the town yellow and black and forget about the dross they served up against Essendon? And against Melbourne on Tommy’s day?? Well, those losses happened, and each of us have recorded our thoughts on that. But ‘living in the now’ is a fine theory and an easy one to adopt in the sunlit days of an 8-0 winning streak. I think perspective is impossible at this time – there’ll be time for that in the off season. Right now I am excitedly getting things sorted for Marcus and I to fly to Sydney on Saturday and lend our voices to the ORCS. GO TIGES!!

Chris, pictures please, can you take some pics?!? You are our man on the ground. And we need photography. And a first hand account. Very excited for you that you will be at the ground and in the thick of it. Geez, I hope we win. For young Marcus. He deserves it, for putting up with old farts like us who have an unnatural appreciation of all things football.

Thanks Andy, and yes, I think these are all good points. It is only reasonable and natural and fair to criticise when we think something is not being done as well as we think it could, or should. There was no criticism of our loss to Geelong, for instance. But how could we not criticise the loss to, say, Melbourne, or to North when we’re six goals up. Criticism is fair. Those who have blind faith in “the club” frustrate me. It becomes like a mantra. They believe that any voiced criticism is like treason. A club is not a dictatorship, it should be a democracy. It should be strong enough to wear and weather criticism. And just as surely as their is criticism, their is praise. And now is a time for praise.

Andy, I’ve enjoyed your contributions to TTBB this year, especially the piece you wrote when we were 3-10. Maybe you were the spark that helped fire them up?
Go tiges! Go Fuller!

Hi Dugald, it’s Camp Host Claire from SWC. I finally found you website and blog. It’s enough to make me turn. Although truthfully before marriage I was always a tigers supporter. I am so sorry to hear about your health. Here’s hoping everything will clear up soon.
There are some nasty viruses lurking about. I too have just had an MRI and tomorrow having a procedure to work on torn cartridge in my hip joint. And have struggled with a low grade lung infection that keeps turning into pneumonia.
Take care and look forward to reading more from you.
Love to the family

Thanks Saintly Claire, and all the best for “the procedure”. And it’s not fair, you mentioning SWC – now I have pangs of longing. Oh how I have fallen back in love with the natural wonders of that place! How many months to go? (too long). Hope the saints give it a shake next week, over there in Adelaide. Funny things happen on last games. Is your son still working at Fox Footy? If he has any Tigery friends, please get him to share our little site-bloggy-thingy (still don’t know what to call it). Reckon my health is all hunky dory. Will be even better if the tiges get up and win on Saturday. And I can’t believe you changed your allegiances after marriage! Is that allowed?
Go Saints! Go Claire! All the best for the “procedure”!
TTBB

“And before the game, think about this. The Sydney players know they have a home final booked, with a double chance. They know we’re playing for everything. Our backs are to the wall. They know we’re going to be harder and lower and more ferocious in the contest; that we are going to hunt them, and maul them, and when we get the ball we are going to run like the wind to open up scoring chances.

Tiger in Adelaide, you know IF we win on Saturday, chances are we MIGHT be playing Port in Adelaide. Know anyone who could arrange a ticket? Know any spare beds? Wonder if I could smuggle myself on in the duffel bag of one of the players?

Where there’s a will there has to be a way! And by the way, if we play in Adelaide you’re in charge of arranging the result. You’ve had an IMPECCABLE track record over there these past two seasons. See no reason why that should change,

My feeling is that as long as the Tiges are in it at 3/4 time (ie. within 3 goals), they’ll win. As Dugald writes, as soon as it becomes a matter of hunger, the Tiges will show they want it more and take more risks. The Tiges have shown how resilient they are this year. I don’t expect them to crumble, fearing success.

Funny how the wheel turns, isn’t it? Yes, I was one who admitted my dissatisfaction with “our boys” when we were the lowest of the low and I’m not ashamed to admit to my dummy spit.
I must point out, though, that I was not picking on the club, or the admin, the coaches, the match committee, or – indeed – the players themselves. I guess it was as much about myself, that I could let it affect me so, that I was envious of those Geelong, Hawthorn and Sydney supporters who never seem to see their teams out of the top 8, or missing out on finals. Yes, I guess I was having a “it’s not fair!” moment, and for that I am ashamed.
I have followed the Tiges for mumblety-mumble years (suffice to say I have lived through 6 Tiger premierships) and the one thing I have learnt in that time is that it doesn’t matter how long your team is down when it does come right and they hold on high that magic cup all those long years of being bottom-dwellers just melts away. So, I say to those plucky supporters who haven’t yet seen a Tiger flag – it is well worth the wait when it does come.
I would like the RFC to remember a saying of the late, great Len Smith who, I believe, set us on the path to GF triumphs in the 60s and 70s. I endeavour to live this mantra :

“Coming together is the beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together means success.”

Amen. Don’t be hard on yourself James, you have earned the right to call it as you see it. And you did so fully in the spirit of TTBB which is to hold the club to some pretty high ideals which they also like to spout when it suits them.

James, I love that last quote. If we win tomorrow, I will have to use it in next week’s blog post. If we lose, well, I might just return to under my rock, or think about doing some gardening, or get on with the next stage of my life. I really enjoy your contributions to the discussion about what it means to be a Tiger. I have never discriminated against anyone who has only followed the Tigers for a short time, and it irritates me when people do (it’s so conservative, measuring some sort of support to a length of time served), but I certainly do respect all who’ve lived a long and grand life, full of epic tales of football, and who’ve witnessed the full swing of hope and heartbreak that our club have given us. And you’re one of them! All power to you.

Incidentally, I spoke this week with an 84yo pensioner who tonight is catching the overnight train to Sydney – sitting up! – with her girlfriend, so that the two of them can go and watch the game. This is why I love football, and this is why I love our fellow tigers.

And mid-season criticism of “our club”, in my book, was absolutely warranted. There is nothing so boring as a mute barracker. What would be the point? Where would be the fun? And how would “our club” learn and grow if all we did was sit on our hands and meekly accept what was given to us. In good times, and bad. We must be strong, we must be bold.
James Taylor, whoever you are, I hope you have the most wonderful Saturday afternoon and early evening that you could hope for. I have a really cheap bottle of champagne that’s been sitting in the fridge for too long. When I pop it at 7.15pm, Saturday, I will drink a toast to you!
Go Tiges! Go JT!

Dug,s I hope all went well I,ve been thinking of you a lot in the last 48hrs or so my store manager left yesterday to go back to Scotland. I think I need to find the photos of our trip in ,06.C,mon Tiger,s you can do it!!!!!!! SJ.

I, also, am one of those who was disappointed, frustrated, distraught, embarassed, annoyed, angry, sad, miserable, dis-interested, etc. etc. 2 months ago. I couldn’t believe that we could have been THAT bad. The game against Melbourne was the absolute bottom of the barrel and I have a confession to make: I collected, at $5.50, after loading up on the Dees through my on-line betting account. That is how low my rating of our beloved Tiges had plummeted. Since then I have ridden the building wave the rest of us have up until the point it has now become a YELLOW ‘N’ BLACK TSUNAMI! I actually believe we will win in Sydney at the weekend. All the reasons have been discussed: momentum, belief, return of key players, improvement of most players, we have more to play for, etc. etc. I will, however, stick to my pre-match routine of telling all and sundry that we are ‘no chance’. I hope I get to tell people we are ‘no chance’ for a few weeks yet.

Sorry to hear about your face Dugald. A bloke I played hockey with in Germany years ago had a similar thing happen to him. While the non-medicos among us were looking at him and having a bit of a chuckle, our goalkeeper, who is a real-life brain surgeon, went into ’emergency mode’ and raced him of to the university clinic at the speed of light. It was quite serious and bit touch and go as to whether his face would recover and he ended up spending a week in care. So, look after yourself, some things in life are more important than footy, although given the next 48 hours, I can’t think of any at the moment.

Well, the love continues! What a game!, What a thrill! We were leaping up and down and screaming and hugging in my loungeroom. So proud of the boys for playing their hearts out. I looked up flights to Adelaide today to find them all gone or very expensive. Too much, as a night’s accommodation would also have to be taken, and Monday off work. The day off work wouldn’t be a big deal, but tickets have to be bought at 9:30am tomorrow and the catch-22 of logistics is a spoiler. Maybe I should book flights now for Perth…..